Medical Support Assistant - Advanced

Summary The Advanced Medical Support Assistant - provides specialized and expert administrative patient support within Primary Care while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. Work involves specialized administrative judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics - specialties - and/or care in the community resources. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyExperience: None Education: High school diploma - General Education Development equivalency certificate - or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of EducationLicensure/Certification/RegistrationNoneGrandfathering Provision: Grandfathering ProvisionEmployees in VHA in this occupation - under a permanent - appropriate - and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard - are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held - including positive education and registration/certification where applicableFor employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed - the following provisions apply: Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standardEmployees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupationNOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placementsForeign EducationTo be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentialsPhysical RequirementsSee VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirementsEnglish Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.7403(f)Grade Determinations: Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) - GS-06: (1) ExperienceOne year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-5 Medical Support Assistant grade levelDuties at this level include but are not limited to performing a full range of duties related to the delivery of healthcare services in an inpatient or outpatient settinganswering phonesgreeting patientsrelaying messages to appropriate staff inside or outside of the unitscheduling appointmentsincluding interpreting and verifying provider orders to schedule within scheduling guidelines(2) Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process (including - but not limited to - scheduling across interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community models and patient health care portals) as it relates to access to care(b) Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community operational activities that affect patient flow - and patient support care administrative functions to include - but not limited to appointment cycles - outside patient referrals - follow-up care - overbooking - provider availability - etc(c) Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians(d) Ability to collaborate and communicate with a wide range of medical clinicians across multiple disciplines (e.g. - medical doctors - nurse practitioners - physician assistants - psychologists - psychiatrists - social workers - clinical pharmacists - and nursing staff) to accomplish team goal setting to ensure medical care to patients is met(e) Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines - ensuring compliance with established processes - policies - and regulations(f) Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively - electronically - by phone - in person - and in writing - with internal and external customersThis may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels - as well as resolving patient concernsPreferred Experience: Physical Requirements: The work performed is predominately clerical in nature and requires no special physical standardsThe work is usually performed in an office setting - working with others and/or aloneAs typical in an office setting - there is the possibility for multiple distractions from normal operating functions and the incumbent is expected to be able to physically perform the duties of the position - aides permitted (which may include walking - sitting - standing - reaching - and bending.) The work may also include the need for light lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs.) of work materials (i.e.: books - binders - papers - etc.)Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. Duties VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo The Advanced MSA provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery modelWork involves specialized administrative judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics - specialties - and/or care in the community resourcesSome of the major duties of this position include - and are not limited to: Processes incoming patient secure messaging through MyHealthyVet and coordinates with care team as appropriateCollects - scans - and updates health insurance information serving a major role in the revenue processThe incumbent(s) contributes to the revenue collection process by identifying patients with third-party insuranceRecommends changes to existing clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelinesSupports patient safety standards using the correct Veterans Affairs identification of all patients through the use of two forms of identification - name and full Social Security NumberWhen records are received - the incumbent(s) will ensure that all necessary health/administrative information are integrated into Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) by sending the documents to scan or performing the function within their areaMust screen/receive phone calls in a courteous and timely manner - determine the nature of requests and provide the information desired using privacy rules and established clinic processesInterpret and communicate requirements of VHA Scheduling Directives and complete accurate scheduling responsibilities and assist in training other MSA levels - if requiredCoordinates with the patient care team to review clinic appointment availabilityMSAs who work outside of PACT must be able to interpret and communicate requirements for such areas Care in the Community - Health Benefits - Emergency Room - Ward Administration and any other services with approved MSAsParticipates in the daily team huddles and/or weekly team meetings where patient care planning and management occurPerforms other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - Tour of duty can range between 7:00am to 5:00pm - various tour of duty optionsTour will be identified based on the needs of the serviceVirtual: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station: Not authorized